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Culture or religion?

I spent some days in Santiago Atitlán for the Holy Week and I was able to appreciate Maximon tradition. A lot of things can be said about this important figure. Some say it is a pagan costume while others studies say Maximon was the first grand-father of Tzutuhil people and when the colonist came from Spain, Tzutuhiles had to create a way to continue its devotion and therefore a story about the third Apostol “Judas” was created. In Santiago Atitlán Maximon is protected by La Cofradía Santa Cruz Fraternity. Catholic Priests have to deal with a way to harmonize between culture and religion. It is said this local Priest is not struggling that well because this year two separated processions were carried away (one from the Cofradía, other from Catholic Church). This was very disappointed for the town and there were some disturbance; in some areas procession carpets were taken away, however we were still able to appreciate some beautiful ones.